Apparatus for absorption and distilling of hydrocarbons



May 1927' D. 1.; NEWTON APPARATUS ABSORPTION ANDDISTILLING 0F HYDROCARBONS Filed Dec. 9. 1925 2 Sheetg-Sheet l /Z 047' Ham-41:751.

con/77ml. Kari May 10 1927, 1,628,055

D. NEWTON APPARATUS FOR ABSORPTION AND DISTILLING 0F HYDROCARBONS Filed Dec. 9. 1925 a sheets-sheet 2 ivy 6715131". I flz'nbel lLJVen Zo-n.

Patented May '10, 1927.

UNITED STATES DANIEL L. NEWTON, OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR ABSORPTION AND DISTILLING 0F HYDROCABBONS.

Application filed December 9, 1925. Serial No. 74,280.

M invention is an a aratus for the ab- I lar reference characters sor tion and distilling of hydrocarbons.

l\ y invention relates to an apparatus for a continuous process of distillin and blending hydrocarbons and especia ly gasoline distilled from an absorbin medium, in particular the distillingand blendin of gasoline from casing head gas absorbe in a hydrocarbon medium.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and eflicient apparatus which not only quickly separates and distills the gasoline dissolved in an absorbing medium, but

I repeatedly blends the constituents composing commercial gasoline in such a manner as to produce a more stable motor fuel which has no tendency to loseany substantial part of its more volatile constituents b evaporation in the ordinary handling 0 the same. Unless the gasoline is blended in this manner, and this is especially true in regard to casing head gasoline, a considerable part of the casing head gasoline is lost by evap oration.

A particular feature of my mvention 1s controlling the rate of flow of the gas and vapors through the absorbing medium in its upward travel through the apparatus. In

order to accomplish this,.I pass the gas and vapors containing gasoline up through the absorbing medium by allowing it to pass I through a series of perforations i n horizontal partitions and by means of a slidlng late the construction an on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

' plan view of one of perforations placed below the partition having per orations I move the plate so that two series of register full. or partly cut off each other, thereby controlling the flow of the gas and vapors containing gasoline through the distilling apparatus.-

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear from the followlng. detailed description'm invention consists in arrangement:v of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanyin drawin s which form a part of the speci cation, I aye lllustrated my impoved apparatus, IINWZhlph'! Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of the apparatus,

Fig. 2 1s a horizontal cross section taken Fig. 3 is a bottom the partitions, showing my shdable plate for controlli the register of'the apertures.

' Fig. 4 1s a vertical section on the hne H of Fig. 3.

8 is provided with a series "of perforations- 10, which open into cylindrical recirculatin et tubes 11, open at the top and provide and blending chambers;

at the bottom adjacent the partition 2 with side openings 12, as shown inFig. 4. The tubes 11 are arranged in parallel rows which are divided by vertical baflle plates 13. The baffle platesare slightly more than twice the height of the tubes 11. There is an overflow pipe 14 leading from each of the distilling and blending chambers 8, 7, (land 5 to the distilling and blending chamber immediately below. Each overflow pipe 14 is so arranged-that its upper end extends to a height twice the height of the tubes 11 so that the level of the liquid in each of the chambers 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 will be maintained at twice the height of the said tubes 11, From the lowest distilling and blending chamber 4 an outlet pipe 15 conducts the abtemperature in the blending chambers 4 to 8 inclusive is provided by a boiler 18 from which the steam is conducted by a valved supply pipe .19 leading to a header pipe 20 from which branch pi cs 21 lead to each of the distilling and blen ing chambers 4, 5, 6, '7 and 8. A steam coil '22 is arranged between the baffle plates 13 of each chamber 4 haust pipe 23 leading into an exhaust header pipe 24 communicating with a steam trap 25.

The absorbing medium, such as kerosene, stove distillate or' other suitable medium,

charged with gasoline which is to be sub jeeted to thedistilling and blending treatment, enters the distilling chamber 9 by means of the manifold 16, through the supply pipe 29 under a pressure suflicient to op-- to 8 inclusiVe and connected to a steam exerate sprays 17. The medium preferably preheated at a ten'iperature from 15.0 to 400 F. is forced through the nozzles 17 where it is atomized in the chamber 9 and the combined action of heat and atomization will liberate about 50% of the gasoline dissolved in the medium. The portion of the gasoline distilled in the chamber 9 contains substan-. tially allthe more volatile portions of the gasoline. The gasoline vapors pass from the distilling chamber 9 throu h a pipe 30 to the supply chamber 3 at the bottom of the apparatus. Before entering the chamber 3 live steam at a ten'iperature of 215 F. and upward is introduced by means of a steam supply pipe 31. The mixture of live steam and gasoline vapors passes from the cham her 3 into the first distilling and blending chamber 4 through the perforations 10 to the recirculating jet tubes 11, where it comes in intimate contact with the absorbing medium whence the vapor mixture is successively conducted front the distilling chamber to each of the distilling and blending chambers 5, 6, 7 and 8. The absorbing medium in the distilling chamber 9 passes through an outlet pipe 32 to the distilling and blending chamber 8 immediately below.

To prevent any gasoline vapors from passing through the pipe 32, I provide a fluid level control float valve 33,,which permits the medium only but not any gas or vapors to pass from chamber 9 to chamber 8. The

medium passes successively from the distilling and blending chambers 8 to 4 inclusive,

through the overflow pipes 14.

The particular arrangement for controlling the flow of gases or vapors upwardly through the partitions is indicated specifically in Figs. 3 and 4. A valve plate forms a false bottom for the partitions 2; this plate is substantially the contour of the interior of the shell, being slightly smaller than the partitions. allows the overflow pipes 14 to pass upwardly through the valve plate 40., As theseoverfiow pipes 14 are staggered as shown in Fig. 1, it is advisable to form two out out sections 41 so that the plates will not be required to be made in rights and lefts; however, this is immaterial as there is only one overflow pipe extending through the various blending chambers 4, 5, 6 and 7 The valve plate is provided with a plurality of short slots 42 and elongated slots 43; these being adapted to register with the perforations 10 formed in the partitions 2. A

. series of studs 44, having heads 45, pass through the elongated slots 43 and are screw threaded into the threaded socket 4 6 in the partitions 2. These studs therefore hold the valve plate in clbse relation to the underside of the partitions 2.

A pair of controlling bolts 47 are secured to the valve plate at opposite sides ,and are A cut, out section 41 eeann shown secured by rivets 48. These bolts pass through apertures 49 in the shell. A washer 50 preferably of gas-tight material is placed on the outside of the shell surrounding the bolts and adjusting nuts 51 are threaded on the bolts engaging the washers and functioning to adjust the plate.

In order to change the opening of the perforations 10 through which the gas andvapors may pass upwardly, the valve'plate 40 is slid transversely of the partitions by loosening the nut on the bolt on one side of the plate and tightening the nut on the other side. By this means very accurate adjust-' ment can be made of the perforations in the partition and the slots in the valve plate.

opening the size of the perforations 10 or to cut this down to any desired amount by moving the valve plate.

As the pressure of the gas and vajpors as being passed through the distilling appa' ratus varies considerably, especially when direct casing head gas is used, it isnecessary vapor in passing through the recirculating jet tubes 11 will thrown the medium up wardl andthere will be a constant reenter-- It is a simple matter therefore to give a full ing 0 the medium through openings 12 of 1 the tubes 11 and a violent agitation resembling boiling will take place .in each of the distilling and blending chambers 4 to 8 inclusive. From the topmost distilling and blending chamber 8 an outlet pipe 34 conducts the vapors to a condenser (not shown).

In the process just described, the absorbing medium is first preheated, then introduced.under pressure in the distilling charm her 9 where it is thoroughly atomized. The gasoline vapors mixed with live steam will now ass successively through a'series of distil mg and blending chambers 4 to 8 inelusive; which form an important part of my invention and in which the distillation Y of the gasoline is completed and the blending of the gasoline is effected. In each of these distilling and blending chambers, the gasoline vapors are repeatedly and intimately mixed with one another and kept at a temperature by means of the heat supplv steam coil 22, so as to effect a stabilizing action on the gasoline produced, preventing much of the loss due to volatilization of casing head gasoline which takes lace where no such blending action during t e distilling process is effected. I

The gasoline obtained'in this process com- "'"operation mtedium and the yield of the final product pares well with the gasoline reduced by the crackin process in the stability of the prodnot; an furthermore by the use of the counter-current principle in which the absorbing medium is successively conducted from one chamber to another against a current of steam and gasoline vapors passing in the opposite direction, a thorough and rapid extraction of all the gasoline contained in the absorbing medium is cli'ected so that when the absorbing medium leaves the lowest distilling and blending chan'iber -l, it is substantially denuded of all gasoline vapors absorbed.

In cases where the absorbing medium is kerosene, stove distillate, or similar cheap by-products, a portion which may reach as high as of the absorbing medium is blended with and incorporated in the gaso line distilled therefrom and remains a stable constituent of the final product of the motor -fuel produced. In this manner commercial gasoline is made directly in one.distilling from natural gas dissolved in a 'is increased beyond the volume of gasoline vapors absorbed by the medium for the reason that the part of the medium itself becomes a constituent part of the commercial gasoline.

My valve plate for controlling the flow of the vapors through the absorbing medium is illustrated as applied toan apparatus for distilling and blending hydrocarbons as disclosed in my prior application No. 7 26,986 filed July 19, 1924 which matured into Patent 1,567 ,458, December 29, 1925 and in connection with the process disclosed in my application No. 726,985 filed July 19, 1924 which matured into Patent 1,567,457, December 29, 1925. The particular valve and the manner of using it tocontrol the process may therefore be considered as a specific improvement on the above mentioned apparatus and process. I

However, it is to be understood that my type of valve plate forming a means for controlling the rate of flow of vapors through liquid absorbing medium may be adapted to other types of appliances and processes for absorblng the contained liquids in gaseous vapors or the like. Such general application is to be understood as being within the. spirit of my invention as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for alrorbing and distilling hydrocarbons. a vertical cylindrical shell having a partition with perforations therethrough, said partition being adapted to sustain liquid thereen and the perforations to pass gas upwardly, a valve plate having a series oi openings therethrough.

sl-idabiy connected to the partition, and a controlling bolt attached to the valve plate and extending through the shell with a nut on the outside of the shell to adjust the valve plate.

:2.- In an ab.;orbing, distilling and blending apparatus a chamber having a partition 3. A distilling and blending apparatus comprising a shell,.a partition therein forming a blending chamber above the partition adapted to contain an absorbing liquid medium, a series of perforations in the partition, a slidable valve plate of smaller area than the partition, said valveplatefhaving a series of slots therethrou h, studs extending through some of said 5 ots and securing said plate on the lower surface of the partition, control bolts attached to the opposite.

sides of the valveplate, extendingthrough the shell and'means on the outside of the shell to slide the said valve plate.

-l. A distilling and blending apparatus comprising in combination a series of blending chambers each having a partition adapt- .ed to hold an absorbing liquid medium, each of said partitions having perforations adapted to allow passage upward of gas contain.- ing vapors from one chamber to another, and means operatively connected to each partition to control the flow of gas intoeach chamber, independently of the rate of flow into other chambers.

5. A distilling and blending apparatus comprising in combination a vertical shell, a series of transverse partitions therein, each partition being adapted to retain an absorbing liquid medium and form a blending chamber above each partition. each parti' tion having a series of perforations adapted to pass gas containing vapor into the abios sorbing medium on the various partitions,.

one after the other in passing upwardly, andvalve plates slidably mounted on each parti tion, adapted to'control the ratev of flow through the said partitions, one independently of the other. 1

v In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

D. L. NEWTON. 

